March 29, 2020 Campground

Covid19 Journal
Week 3
Hansel and Gretel walk to the woods.
They are alone.
Peaceful
Social distancing at its finest
Taking in as much of nature as possible.
If only they could get lost here. sigh................

It was a somber walk in the woods.

What is going on?

How long will this last?

What about our children?

So many unanswered questions.

We breathed in, and we breathed out.

We soaked up the solitude.

Where was everyone?
Nature put on a display of springtime blooms.

 Keeping a keen sense of humor through is be high-ranking.

March 29, 2020 Whole Wheat Pita Bread

COVID19 Journal
Week 1&2
Soooooooo...... everyone is cooped up during the coronavirus.
Baking seems like a great diversion.
People, including me, have returned to the art of bread-making, using YEAST.
While it is not as easy as it looks, after a few practices, you're on your way to the British Bake-off.
The process is fascinating, as you watch the chemical reaction of the yeast rise.... if you can find the yeast in the stores! 😆
"There really is nothing better than homemade pita bread."

"It is so much healthier and it is unbelievably soft and fluffy.."
The photo above, was my second session (March 29, 2020).. The recipe is here: WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD 2
My first attempt was here 👇 on March 20, 2020

The recipe for the first session is here: WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD 1
We have enjoyed both.
I may go for a third attempt soon. 😀😀😀
Working with yeast can be tricky...... if you don't follow the directions.
"The dough is made with basic ingredients (flour, water, salt, oil, honey and yeast), rolled thin and baked at a high temperature. As it bakes, it will puff up and create a pocket perfect for filling."
***USE A PREHEATED TRAY FOR BAKING***
Make sure you have all of your ingredients before you begin.....

The dough has an 'elastic' look to it, while using the beater.

The kneading process is important!  Check out the video! 

I use this very simple timer, but use whatever works for you, as there are SEVERAL timed phases in the process.

The dough rises 

.... to this 👇😲😲😲

The process is fairly quick after this first rising. Divide dough into 8 rounds, roll out, and let the rounds rise one more time,then bake! 

Voila!💓

Read the directions BEFORE you begin!(allowing adequate time to make these jewels is crucial!) 

Baking with yeast is fun. 

The house is filled with an aroma that will make you want to try other recipes! 

HAPPY BAKING!

March 23, 2020 Penny, Henny-Penny, and the Sky is Not Falling

Week 2

Meet Penny.

In fairness to Penny, this photo was taken last year, so some of her features have changed.
She is lovely, isn't she!
Penny shares her coup with 3 other chickens.
I guess you could call them 'family'.
They have been 'COOPED UP' together, from they were purchased by their owners.(Andrew, Lauren, Wyatt)
Wow.......
confined,
restricted,
limited,
contained....
powerful words that now take on new meanings in our brave new world.
Meet Penny's family: (Henrietta, Roxanne, and Sydney)

No doubt, these ladies have learned to get along.
In spite of the fact that they have established a "PECKING ORDER",
I firmly believe that chickens bond with each other. 
They would HAVE to, in order to produce this 👇👇👇

Do chickens get frantic?
Of course they do!

Photo illustration by Simon Abranowicz

Have you heard the term "RUNNING AROUND LIKE A HEADLESS CHICKEN" ? HA! Read about it in the highlighted link. (Yep, I've noticed people's behaviors. Some of them resemble these frantic chickens😐😐😐)
..."This idiom originates from as early as the 14th century in England when chickens were popularly killed by chopping off their heads with an axe. Some ot the chickens ran around in a panic, crashing into objects after their heads have been chopped off, just before they dropped dead."...
Next meet Henny-Penny.(Paul Galdone Classics)
"Convinced the sky is falling, Henny Penny and a band of gullible friends march off to the king, only to meet their end at the hands of a wily fox."

Please take the time to read this . 
Read it to your children.
Re-Read it. 
Click on this link to read👉👉👉 HENNY-PENNY: THE SKY IS FALLING!
Don't get me wrong........
Panic, Fear, Anxiety, Worry are real emotions.
I have them.
We all do.
IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE THESE EMOTIONS. 😀

Keeping these emotions under control has been an ongoing learning technique for me.
I'm still learning.😃😃😃
It's taken me a pretty long time to grasp what I have to do for ME.
Here is one of a bazillion sites on the internet.
Find one that works for you!
 HOW TO CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS EFFECTIVELY
And one last link 👉👉👉 HOW TO AVOID THE "CHICKEN LITTLE" SYNDROME
Together we can bond.
Together we can reach out.
Together we can overlook each other's weaknesses, frailties, insecurities, and differences of opinions.
THE SKY IS NOT FALLING.
BREATHE.
REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU.
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN HELP.
YOU ARE LOVED 💖
"STAY CLOSE TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE SUNLIGHT."

March 9-16, 2020 Sarasota

Welcome to Sarasota.
Our favorite destination vacation.
Our 3rd or 4th trip here.....
The place we come to forget the days, and enjoy the moment.

Bring on the sun,
the sand,
the seafood,
the seclusion, the seashells,
and repeat!

The water was warm, and calm.

The downtown area of Sarasota is filled with arts, dining, and.nightlife.
Streets are colorfully named such as Pineapple, Orange, Lemon and Palm.
Statues, Bayfront Park, The Ringling Museum, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens...... a city filled with a multitude of events and destinations. Visitor to the city love to stop by and take their picture with the famous smooch. "Unconditional Surrender" is a 26ft tall statue on the Sarasota Bayfront. The statue was modeled after the renowned photography by Alfred Eisenstaedt taken at the end of World War II. It recreates the famous embrace between a sailor and a nurse celebrating the end of World War II in New York's Times Square in 1945.

Little did we know about the Covid19 Virus, its seriousness, or what was getting ready to hover over us. No one here seemed concerned. Despite the warnings from back home......... the alarm was eery.
The panic back home seemed unnecessary.......... until we started back home.
We were in a race to become "safe" in our own home.
And just for the heck of it........ we bought a few extra rolls of toilet paper while we were in Sarasota. The shortage had not quite reached the pandemic portions.
The drive home was surreal.
But our vacation was enjoyed!

March 12, 2020 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Sarasota, Fla)

The 15 acres of lush Selby Gardens is a living museum of orchids, bromeliads, and gesneriads, tropical conservatory, and gardens, and butterfly house. What an "oasis of tranquility" to experience the beauty of nature.

This particular exhibition series, 'Salvador Dali Gardens of the Mind' was on display until June 28th. How appropriate since we had been to the Dali Museum in St Petersburg, just days before. The following chart explain the Design, Meaning, and Visuals of this particular exhibit.

A dream-like garden fantasy..........
Including a butterfly house, a rainforest, Selby House, great lawn, Mangroves, Display gardens, and the Payne Mansion.

A visual treat, indeed!